Valve operating mechanism for hot-air registers



R. L. LEIGH 2,596,257

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR HOT-AIR REGISTERS May 13, 1952 Filed April 12, 1948 INVENTOR. Rcbe/"f A. Le!

ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1952 VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR HOT-AIR REGISTERS Robert L. Leigh, Coopersville, Mich., assignor to Air Control Products, Inc., Coopersville, Mich.

Application April 12, 1948, Serial No. 20,546

9 Claims. (01. 268-96) This invention relates to improvements in valve operating mechanism for hot air registers.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel and simple form or operating mechanism for a hot air register which will maintain the valve without rattling in any of its adjusted positions.

Second, to provide a valve operating mechanism for a register which is easy to operate and which is still self-locking in all positions of the mechanism.

Third, to provide a valve operating mechanism for a register valve in which a single spring having an over centering action is operative to maintain the valve in either open or closed position and to provide the necessary friction forces for holding the valve in any intermediate adjusted position.

Fourth, to provide valve actuating mechanism of the type described which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and which will retain its ability to hold the valve in any position even after prolonged use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings of which there is one sheet illustrate a preferred form of my valve operating mechanism.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary rear or inside elevational view of a register and valve assembly with my valve operating mechanism installed thereon, the valve being shown in open position and in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view illustrating in detail the position of my operating mechanism as shown in Fig. l and taken along the plane of the line !2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view showing my valve operating mechanism in closed position and taken along the plane indi cated by the line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away illustrating my valve operating mechanism in an intermediate position.

The drawings illustrate a hot air register having a chambered face plate I defining the louvered register openings 2. The register plate is rearwardly flanged and arranged to be secured against a wall or base board by screws passed through the apertures 3.

.Secured to the inner side of the face plate and around the openings 2 is a frame 4 consisting of vertical side members 5 and top and bottom cross members 6. All of the frame members are 25 wardly along the side of the bar II.

flanged outwardly of the register opening and secured as by welding to the inner side of the face plate. The frame 4 is adapted to be connected to the stack head of a hot air heating system as will 5 be readily understood.

The register valve 1 consists of a generally flat sheet metal stamping arranged to substantially close the opening within the frame 4. An angle shaped reinforcing strip 8 is secured to the upper 1 edge of the valve I and is provided with downturned ends 9 which are pivotally secured to the side frame members as by the pivots I0.

Located centrally of the register opening is a vertical bar II of angle section having its major flange extending normally with respect to the I I bracingly connecting the top and bottom members 6 of the frame 4 constitutes a portion of the frame 4. The upper end of the major flange of the bar I I is notched as at I4 forming a finger I5 which is bent over laterally and projects down- Attention is called to the fact that the major flange of the bar II is widened as at I6 at its upper end and defines an aperture I! for a purpose to be described presently.

3 A platelike actuating member I8 is secured to the widened portion I6 by the pin IS. The actuating member I8 is provided with a downwardly and outwardly extending finger piece 20 having a handle 2| on the outer end thereof. The minor flange of the bar I I and the face plate are slotted as at 22 and 23 respectively to pass the finger piece. The innermost corner of the actuating member I8 is provided with a laterally turned ear 24 which is notched to form a support for one end of a coil spring 25. The opposite end of the spring 25 is hooked through an aperture in the depending ear I5 on the bar II and it will be noted that the platelike actuating member is lapped upon the opposite side of the widened portion I6 from the spring 25. The spring 25 is of such a length as to be constantly under tension.

The actuating member I8 and valve 1 are connected by a link 26 having its lower end pivoted to the actuating member at 21 and its upper end pivoted as at 28 to an car 29 struck downwardly from the reinforcing strip 8. It will be noted that the pivot 21 is located forwardly of the pivot IS in all positions of the operating member I8 and that the pivot 28 is located forwardly of the pivot III in all positions of the valve I. It is apparent 3 that an upward motion of the handle 2| will impart a closing motion to the valve 7. A reverse motion Will open the valve.

In the extreme open position of the valve and actuating member as illustrated in Fig. 2, the axis of the tension spring 25 is located above the pivot I9 so that the spring exerts a clockwise rotative force to the actuating member l8 and tends to hold the valve 1 open. In the closed position of the valve and actuating member (as seen in Fig. 3) the axis of the spring 25 extends forwardly of the pivot l9 so that the spring exerts a clockwise force on the actuating member l8- tending to hold the valve closed.

In the intermediate positions of the actuating members and the valve, as the axis of the spring 25 approaches and intersects the axis of the pivot I9, the tension of the spring 25 will be increased to a maximum and due to the laterally displaced position of the spring this force will urge the actuating member I8 laterally against the widened portion I6 of the bar H. The force of the spring tending to turn the actuating member l8 becomes zero due to the alignment of the spring with the pivot axis IS. The friction forces between the actuating member l8 and the bar H are thus sufficient to hold the valve in any of its intermediatev adjusted positions. As the spring 25swings away from the pivot axis IS, the length ofthe spring and therefor its tension is reduced, reducing the friction force restraining movement of the actuating member I8.

My valve actuating mechanism thus; acts as a mechanism constantly on dead center with the increased friction forces in the intermediate position of the mechanism replacing the direct hold forcesof the spring 25 onthe valve.

Themechanism is easy to operate and does not become loosened with use as the necessary friction forces are provided by the spring 25 rather than by a system of tightly fitting the various pivotal connections. My mechanism is thus well adapted to hold, the valve in any adjusted position and to be operativefor an indefinite period of time.

The mechanism is readily manufactured and assembled at low cost attention being called to thefact that the hole 1! in the widened portion 16 is aligned With the pivot 21' in the open posi-.

tion of the valve and actuating member 50- that the link 26 and actuating member [B can be connected after the valve and actuating member have been installed onthe register.

Ihave thus described a highly practical commercial embodiment of my valve operating mechanism so that others may reproduce the same without further explanation. It should be understood that the embodiment illustrated is an example only and is not limiting on my invention. Obviously the operating mechanism could heapplied to either endof the valveand the direction of movement of the finger piece 20 to open or close the valve could be reversed'by rearrangement of the pivot 21 or 28 on the. opposite side of the pivotslfl or l9.

I-Iaving'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame including. a centrally disposed vertical bar of substantial Width from front to rear and having a laterally projecting .arm, :of a valve member pivotally mounted on said frame and having an ear projecting from the front side thereof spaced from but adjacent to its pivot axis, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said bar and having a laterally projecting stud spaced substantially from its pivot, said actuating member having a portion of substantial area in frictional engagement with a side of the bar, a connecting link to said ear on said valve member pivotally connected to said actuating member eccentrically relative to itspivot, a tension spring connected at one end to said stud on said actuating member and at its other end to said laterally projecting arm on said bar, the connection of the inner end of said spring to said arm being eccentric to but adjacent the actuating member pivot, said spring connection for the inner end of said spring being such that the axis of the spring swings across the and tending to hold the valve member closedwhen.

on the opposite side, said spring connection ur ing saidactuating member into frictional contact with said bar with such force thatsaid actuating member is frictionally retained against movement in all positions of adjustment of the actuating member.

2. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame, of a valve member pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said frame, said actuating member having a portion of substantial area in frictional engagement with a side of. the frame, a connecting link for said valve member pivotally connected to said actuating member below and eccentrically relative to its pivot, a tension spring connected at one end to saidactuating member and at its other end to said frame, the connection of the inner end of said spring to said frame being eccentric to but adjacent the actuating member pivot, said spring connection for the spring to said frame being such that the axis of the spring swings across the pivot axis of the actuating member as the actuating member is moved from valve opening tov valve closing position and vice versa but in all positions of ad-i justment acting to urge the actuating member into frictional engagement with the said framewhereby the valve is stabilized in fully openand fully closed position and is retainingly supported in all intermediate positions of adjustment thereof, said spring constituting means tending to hold the valve member open when on one side of the pivot axis of the actuating member and tending to hold the valve member closed when on the opposite side, said spring connection urging said actuating member into frictional contact with said frame with such force that said actuate ing member is frictionally retained against.move-: ment in all adjusted positions of said actuating member.

3. In a structure of the: class described the. com.- bination with a supporting frame, of a valve member pivotally mounted on said frame, an

actuating member pivotally mounted. on said frame and having a laterally projecting stud spaced substantially from its pivot, said actuating member having. a portion of substantial areav in frictional engagement with a side of the frame;

a connecting link for said valve member pivotally connected to said actuating member and eccentrically relative to its pivot, a tension sprin connected at one end to said stud and at its other end to said frame, the connection of the inner end of said spring to said frame being eccentric to but adjacent the actuating member pivot, said spring connection for the spring to said frame being such that the axis of the spring swings across the pivot axis of the actuating member as the actuating member is moved from valve opening to valve closing position and vice versa but in all positions of adjustment acting to urge the actuating member into frictional engagement with the said frame whereby the valve is stabilized in fully open and fully closed position and is retainingly supported in all intermediate positions of adjustment thereof, said spring constituting means tending to hold the valve member open when on one side of the pivot axis of the actuating member and tending to hold the valve member closed when on the opposite side, said spring connection urging said actuating member into frictional contact with said frame with such force that said actuating member is frictionally retained against movement in all adjusted positions of said actuating member.

4. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame including an actuating member supporting element, of a valve member pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating member for said valve member pivotally mounted on said supporting element in frictional engagement therewith, a coil spring connected at one end to said actuating member and at its other end to said supporting element and acting to urge the actuating member into frictional engagement with its supporting element, the outer end of said spring being connected to the swinging part of said actuating member, its inner end being connected to said supporting element adjacent the pivot of said actuating member but in laterally offset relation thereto so that the biasing stress of the spring on the actuating member moves across the pivot axis of the actuating member as the actuating member is moved from valve opening to valve closed position and vice versa, said spring constituting means tending to hold the valve member open when its biasing stress is on one side of the pivot axis of the actuating member and tending to hold the valve member closed when on the opposite side, said spring urging said actuating member into frictional contact with said actuating member supporting element with such force that the actuating member is frictionally retained against movement in all adjusted positions thereof.

5. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame including an actuating member supporting element, of a valve member pivotally mounted thereon, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said supporting element in frictional engagement therewith, a coil spring connected at one end to said actuating member and at its other end to said supporting element and acting to urge the actuating member into frictional engagement with its supporting element, the outer end of said spring being connected to the swinging part of said actuating member, its inner end being connected to said supporting element so that the biasing stress of the spring on the actuating member moves across the pivot axis of the actuating member as the actuating member is moved from valve opening to Valve closed position and vice versa, said spring constituting means tending to hold the valve member open whenits biasingstress is on one side of the pivot axis of the actuating member and tending to hold the valve member closed when on the opposite side, said spring urging said actuating member into frictional contact with said actuating member supporting element with such force that the actuating member is frictionally retained against movement in all adjusted positions thereof.

6. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame of a valve member pivotally mounted thereon, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said valve member, said frame and actuating member having coacting friction elements, a tension spring connected at one end to said actuating member in substantially spaced relation to its pivot and its other end to said frame at a point offset from but closely adjacent to said pivot whereby the biasing stress of the spring tending to swing the actuating member on its pivot remains substantially constant throughout the stroke of the actuating member with the spring acting to urge the frictional elements into engagement in all positions of adjustment of the actuating member, said spring urging said friction elements into frictional contact with such force as to frictionally retain said actuating member against movement in all positions of adjustment thereof.

'7. In a structure of the class described the combination with a supporting frame of a valve member pivotally mounted thereon, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said valve member, said frame and actuating member having coacting friction elements, a tension spring connected at one end to said actuating member in substantially spaced relation to its pivot and its other end to said frame substantially closer to said pivot so that the biasing stress of the spring tending to swing the actuating member on its pivot is substantially uniform and insufficient to overcome the function of the said frictional elements, said spring urging said frictional elements into frictional contact with such force as to frictionally retain said actuating member against movement in all positions of adjustment thereof.

8. In combination with a register having a face plate defining an opening, a plate like valve pivotally mounted for opening or closing said register opening, a support bar secured to the inside of said face plate and extending vertically and normally to said face plate, a projection on the upper end of said bar and displaced laterally on one side of said bar, a plate like actuating member pivotally secured to said bar and lapped upon the opposite side thereof from said projection, a lug extending laterally from said actuating member and into the general plane of said projection, a tension spring stretched between said lug and said projection, the pivotal connection of said actuating member to said bar being positioned relative to said ear and said projection so that the axis of said spring intersects the axis of the pivotal connection in an intermediate position of said actuating member, and means for transmitting motion from said actuating member to said valve.

9. In combination with a register having a face plate defining an opening, a plate like valve pivotally mounted for opening or closing said register opening, a support bar secured to the inside of said face plate and extending vertically and nor- 7 7 many to' saili fa'ce"plate, ia projection onitheu per end ofisaidlbarand displaced laterally on onefside Of'said-bar, 'alplatelikeactuatingl member pivdtally f secured to 1 said bar and lappe'd upon :the opposite side thereof from s'aid "projection, :aiIug extending later-ally Jfro'm said sactuating member and 7 into the general -plane fof said projectiomra tension spring stretched between said lug andis'aid projection; the pivotal connection ofisaidiatuating member to said bar being positionedl'relative to said -ear 'and said vprojection: so ithat :the axis of said sp'ring intersects "the I axis Of the pivotal connection -in an intermediate :position 'of said actuating member, :and a link for transmitting motion fromsaid -actuating member to'said valve.

ROBERT-"L. LEIGH.

R'IZ ZIE ERENCES CITED *The foil'o'wing references are of record in the fiie'iof this patent:

Number 1,090,697 1,412,613 -1 424,410 1 441358 1 ,487 ,060 1 ,49 1 7 65 4,503,607 1,516,403 1,690,368 1,771,014 2,137,426 2,252 ,634 2,299,832

"UNITED STATES PATENTS Name --Dat-e Eddleman -Mar.--17,- 1914 Henvis Apr. 11,1922 Hopewell Aug.. 1, 1-922 Lampert Jan. 9, 11 923 Hand1an VMar. .18, 1924 Hart Apr. 22, -1924 -S1aymaker: et a1 Aug. 5,119 24 Page- I Nov. 18, 1924 Grapp Nov.-6,41928 Seelert- July 22,1930 Thompson Nov. 22,1938 --J.ustason 1Aug..12, 1-941 :Mader Oct-27,1942 Leigh May 30, .1950 

